Ask the contractor.

Leaky Skylights Spur Hunt For A Reliable Contractor

Q--I have a problem with skylights in my home. They are leaking and are very old. I want to replace them with larger units that won't leak. Is that possible?

Finding a roofer or contractor to do this has been very frustrating. What kind of contractor do I hire to do this and how does one find a really good contractor? Do I need a divining rod?

A--I can feel your pain. You have double trouble because your problem involves a roof leak. Since you already have plenty of water in your house from the leak, you can throw away the divining rod. Get rid of your tarot cards and Ouija board, too. It can be hard to find a qualified contractor or roofer, but trust me, there is usually one or two in every city or town. You simply need to look in the right places.

Let's solve the roof leak problem first. The vast majority of roof leaks can usually be found where things pop up through a roof. Skylights, plumbing vent pipes, heating vent pipes, chimneys, second-story sidewalls, etc., can all abut or penetrate a roof. These non-roof items are connected to roof materials by flashings, which are simply transitional roofing materials. They can be made from tin, copper, aluminum, lead or even modified asphalt materials. My guess is that your skylight flashings are the source of your trouble.

Many skylights require a roofer to fabricate some of the flashings while he's up on the roof. This process requires experience and attention to detail. Not all roofers are qualified to do this.

The best skylights, in my opinion, are those that include complete factory-built flashing materials in the box. They're virtually idiot-proof. All the roofer has to do is follow a few easy steps and the hardest wind-driven rain will never create a waterfall inside your home.

If you are enlarging the skylight opening by making it longer, then the modifications to the roof structure will probably be very minor. Major structural changes are necessary when you decide to widen a skylight opening.

In these instances, extra full-size rafters need to be added on either side of the skylight opening. These extra framing members help carry the roof load that used to be supported by the rafters that were cut to widen the new opening.

Finding a reliable, competent and skilled roofer or remodeling contractor that can do all of the work will take some time, but it is by no means impossible. If you understand some of the basic principles by which these people work, the task is not as mysterious as it may seem. Quality contractors are proud of their work. They want it to be perfect or nearly so and they don't want any call-back or warranty problems. To achieve trouble-free results, they know that high-quality materials are an integral part of each project. Real professionals know that problems are public relations nightmares that drain profits.

You should start your search for contractors by visiting the businesses that supply quality materials to them, quite likely places you've never heard of. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Roofing Supplies." Many of the listings will be businesses that cater primarily to roofing contractors and not consumers like you. Visit two or three of these places. Try to do this in the middle of the morning or midafternoon. Never go early in the morning, at lunch or the end of the business day. These are busy times when contractors are picking up supplies.

Once there, ask to speak with the manager or owner. Briefly describe your job to this person. Ask for a customer who has been buying for 15 or more years, routinely buys the highest quality materials and pays his monthly bill on time. If the business manager obliges you, you will have a list of high-quality candidates. You might also ask one last question: What contractors would you use to work on your own home?

If the manager will not release names, then go to plan B. Do a stakeout of the business in the early morning and get business cards from the contractors who are buying supplies. Look for ones who are driving well-kept vehicles that project a look of professionalism. You will still need to do more detective work, but your chances of hiring a pro are good.

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Have questions about the remodeling process? Write to Tim Carter, c/o The Chicago Tribune, P.O. Box 36352, Cincinnati, OH 45236-0352. Questions will be answered only in the column.

For a list of manufacturers of skylights with factory-built flashings and other tips on leakproof skylight installation, please send $3 to the above address. Ask for Builder Bulletin No. 333.

For a list of past Builder Bulletins and a wide variety of individual job bid sheets, send a business-size, stamped, self-addressed envelope to the same address.

Ask the Contractor can also be accessed via the Internet at www.chicagotribune.com/go/askcon.